Week 6 has been complete chaos for a couple of blue-blood programs. Penn State, sitting pretty at No. 7 and dreaming playoff dreams, walked into the Rose Bowl and got blindsided by winless UCLA. The 0-4 Bruins team delivered a 42-37 shocker that will live in Pasadena history. According to Sportradar, no 0-4 team had beaten a top 10 opponent in 40 years. 

Then there was Arch Manning. He walked into the Swamp, and Florida made sure he left drenched in humility. And suddenly, the Longhorns and the Nittany Lions are both staring at two losses before mid-October. Just like that, two preseason playoff hopefuls are plummeting out of the AP Top 25. 

AP Top 25 after Week 6

But with giants falling, someone’s got to rise. So who’s climbing, who’s slipping, and who’s about to make a case for January glory? Let’s project the new AP Top 25 after a weekend that flipped the board.  

1. Ohio State (5-0)

If there was any debate before, there isn’t now. This is the best defense in America. The Buckeyes haven’t allowed more than 10 points in each of their five wins this season. 

Their 42-3 demolition of Minnesota marked their fourth straight home game with 100K+ attendance. Ryan Day‘s team is here to stay and stick till the very end. Illinois awaits next, and while it’s a road trip, nobody’s betting against the nation’s top team. The question isn’t if Ohio State stays at No. 1; it’s who’s good enough to even challenge them.

2. Oregon (5-0)

A week after wrecking Penn State on the road, Oregon looked comfortable coasting into October. The Ducks got 16 first-place votes last week, and while their win over the Nittany Lions suddenly looks less impressive, the resume still sparkles. Bo Nix looks unflappable, the defense looks mean, and none of their remaining opponents are ranked. Dan Lanning‘s squad could walk into November undefeated. Still, the looming question is can they stay sharp without a real test until December?

3. Miami (5-0)

Mario Cristobal’s crew went into Tallahassee and made a statement, beating a ranked Florida State team on the road. That kind of win earns you respect and, maybe, a few of Oregon’s lost votes. The Hurricanes are fast, physical, and playing like a team that’s tired of being a punchline. They might not leapfrog the Ducks yet, but they’re coming and everyone knows it. Momentum’s a funny thing. Miami’s got it, and they’re about to find out how far it can carry them.

4. Ole Miss (5-0)

The Rebels took a well-earned breather after last week’s slugfest win over LSU. Lane Kiffin’s offense looks nuclear again, and that upcoming gauntlet against Washington State, Georgia, and Oklahoma will reveal whether this is a playoff team or another Ole Miss fever dream. For now, they’re undefeated, rested, and dangerous. If the crew survives October, Oxford will believe again.

5. Oklahoma (5-0)

The Sooners, even without QB John Mateer, handled business against Kent State. Easy win, no drama. But the rumor mill says their star QB might miss the Texas game too, and that’s where this gets interesting. Oklahoma looks like a top-five team on paper, but if they’re rolling with a backup in the Red River Rivalry, chaos might come calling again. The Sooners are perfect for now but perfection has a deadline.

6. Texas A&M (5-0)

Jimbo Fisher’s defense is carrying this team like it’s 2018 again. The Aggies have beaten Auburn and Mississippi State back-to-back, giving them an early SEC edge. The offense is still a bit shaky, but Florida rolls into College Station next weekend. This a chance to show the nation they’re more than a defensive wonder.

7. Indiana (5-0)

The Hoosiers are undefeated, top-10 in both scoring offense and defense, and sitting atop the Big Ten standings. They had the weekend off, which might be the calm before a storm in Eugene. Oregon awaits next Saturday and everyone remembers what happened the last time Indiana went into Ohio State unbeaten. Are they for real, or just another early-season mirage? We’re about to find out.

8. Alabama (4-1)

Two pressure cookers. Two wins. Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama just survived Vanderbilt after toppling Georgia in Athens and that means they’re right back in business. The Crimson Tide are unbeaten in SEC play, and this isn’t the usual Nick Saban-style domination, but it’s gritty, efficient football. Alabama’s evolving, and that might be the scariest thing about them.

9. Texas Tech (5-0)

Keep an eye on Lubbock. Something real is brewing there. The Red Raiders’ defense is making headlines. Holding Houston to a single touchdown on the road was no small feat. Texas Tech’s new identity is balance, and it’s paying dividends in the Big 12. Suddenly, they’re not just fun, they’re formidable.

10. Georgia (4-1)

Georgia bounced back from that Alabama loss with a comfortable win over Kentucky.

Gunner Stockton and Dillon Bell combined for four rushing touchdowns, and the Bulldogs looked like their old selves again. They’ll climb back into the top 10, especially with Penn State and Texas tumbling.

11. LSU (4-1)

The Tigers still look incomplete, with a rushing attack that ranks among the nation’s worst.

12. Tennessee (4-1)

The Vols are catching its breath before an Alabama-Oklahoma gauntlet that’ll define its season. 

13. Georgia Tech (5-0)

The Yellow Jackets are quietly undefeated after beating Wake by one point but haven’t faced a ranked team yet. 

14. Missouri (5-0)

The Tigers are still perfect but they haven’t played a ranked team. Next Saturday will be huge when they host Alabama. 

15. Michigan (4-1)

The Wolverines looked sharp behind Justice Haynes’ two-touchdown day against Wisconsin. They’re 2-0 in Big Ten heading into their USC matchup next. 

16. Notre Dame (3-2)

Marcus Freeman’s Irish finally flashed defensive life with four interceptions against Boise State. 

17. Illinois (5-1)

The Fighting Illini stormed past Purdue with a 27-point second quarter and will get a crack at No. 1 Ohio State next. 

18. BYU (5-0)

The Cougars rolled over West Virginia and will rise a few spots, though a brutal road-heavy stretch awaits. 

19. Virginia (5-1)

Virginia escaped Louisville in overtime and remains an ACC dark horse with a 3-0 record. 

20. Arizona State (4-1)

The Sun Devils are back in the mix after beating TCU but face three ranked foes in four weeks. 

21. Vanderbilt (5-1)

The Commodores lost to Alabama, but Diego Pavia’s grit still keeps them respectable.

22. Iowa State (5-1)

The Cyclones nearly pulled off a comeback at Cincinnati but might slide out to make room for newcomers like Memphis or USF both undefeated, both hungry. 

23. Texas (3-2)

Alas! The giants have fallen. Arch Manning was sacked seven times at Florida, and the Longhorns’ offensive line looked lost. The 21-29 loss couldn’t have come at a worse time for Steve Sarkisian. They still have some SEC juggernauts on their schedule, and if you can’t beat a down-and-out Florida, you may not stand a chance against the likes of Oklahoma, Georgia and Texas A&M. 

The Longhorns’ downfall also puts question marks on AP voters. How were they the No. 1 ranked team in the country before a ball was snapped? All the issues related to their

24. Penn State (3-2)

The Nittany Lions are this week’s big freefall. Losing to Oregon is fine. Losing to 0-4 UCLA is unforgivable. Ideally, with no good wins on their resume, James Franklin’s side should have been out of the top 25. But we know the AP voters. They couldn’t throw out Notre Dame after a 0-2 start. The big-team bias is likely to continue for Penn State, but as far as their season is concerned, it’s almost over.

Even if they finish with three losses at the end of the season, this UCLA defeat will count them out of any strength-of-schedule contention. 

25. Florida State (3-2)

The Seminoles are a dilemma. Back-to-back losses sting, especially after the Miami beatdown, but that win over Alabama still means something. AP voters might hang onto them for another week, but the leash is short. The ACC is suddenly wide open, and Florida State is fighting to stay relevant. One more stumble, and they’re gone.